An Introductory Guide to the Identification of Small Arms, Light Weapons, and Associated Ammunition 9782940548552

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An Introductory Guide to the Identification of Small Arms, Light Weapons, and Associated Ammunition Edited by N.R. Jenzen-Jones and Matt Schroeder

A publication of the Small Arms Survey with support from the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement of the US Department of State

A Guide to the Identification of Small Arms and Light Weapons Handbook

Copyright

Published in Switzerland by the Small Arms Survey

Fact-checking: Lisa Bjork, Timothy Jolin, and Natasia Kalajdziovski

© Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva 2018

Copy-editing: Fiona O’Brien

First published in November 2018

Layout: Julian Knott (www.julianknott.com)

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the Small Arms Survey, or as expressly permitted by law, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographics rights organization. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the above should be sent to the publications coordinator, Small Arms Survey, at the address below.

Infographics and illustrations: Daly Design  ([email protected])

Small Arms Survey

Communications coordination: Emilia Dungel

Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies

Printed in France by Gonnet

Maison de la Paix

ISBN: 978-2-940548-55-2

Design: Rick Jones ([email protected])

Cartography: Jillian Luff, MAPgrafix (www.mapgrafix.com) Proofread: Stephanie Huitson ([email protected]) Production: Olivia Denonville with Rebecca Bradshaw

Chemin Eugène-Rigot 2E

Cover photo: see information p. 85

1202 Geneva Switzerland The Small Arms Survey takes no position regarding the status or name of countries or territories mentioned in this publication.

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The Small Arms Survey is a global centre of excellence whose mandate is to generate impartial, evidence-based, and policy-relevant knowledge on all aspects of small arms and armed violence. It is the principal international source of expertise, information, and analysis on small arms and armed violence issues, and acts as a resource for governments, policymakers, researchers, and civil society. It is located in Geneva, Switzerland, and is a project of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. The Survey has an international staff with expertise in security studies, political science, law, economics, development studies, sociology, and criminology, and collaborates with a network of researchers, partner institutions, non-governmental organizations, and governments in more than 50 countries. For more information, please visit: www.smallarmssurvey.org. Small Arms Survey Maison de la Paix Chemin Eugène-Rigot 2E 1202 Geneva, Switzerland p +41 22 908 5777 f +41 22 732 2738 e [email protected] w www.smallarmssurvey.org

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About the Small Arms Survey

About the Small Arms Survey

A Guide to the Identification of Small Arms and Light Weapons

About the authors

N.R. Jenzen-Jones is a military arms and munitions specialist and intelligence analyst focusing on current and recent conflicts and emergent technologies. He is the director of Armament Research Services (ARES). He has produced extensive research and analysis on a range of small arms and light weapons and small- and medium-calibre ammunition issues as well as on conventional arms proliferation. He has also produced numerous technical assessments of other types of weapons, including incendiary weapons, cluster munitions, and indirect-fire artillery weapons. Mr Jenzen-Jones’ other research fields include the exploitation of technical intelligence to support counter-piracy, counter-narcotics, and the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWPA). He is a certified armourer and ammunition collector, and a member of several international professional associations and societies including the International Ammunition Association, the European Car-

Handbook

tridge Research Association, the International Ballistics Society, the Society for Libyan Studies, and the Ordnance Society. Matt Schroeder is a senior researcher at the Small Arms Survey where he studies the arms trade, arms export controls, and the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons. He previously served as the director of the Arms Sales Monitoring Project at the Federation of American Scientists. Mr Schroeder is the author of The MANPADS Threat and International Efforts to Address it (Washington, DC: FAS, 2013), and co-author of The Small Arms Trade (Oxford: Oneworld Publications, 2007). He has also written for Arms Control Today, Defense News, Defense Technology International, Disarmament Forum, Foreign Policy, and Jane’s Intelligence Review, among other publications. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Wittenberg University and a master’s degree in international security policy from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.

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and Artillery at the National Firearms Centre of the Royal Armouries in Leeds, United Kingdom. He is a specialist in the identification of small arms and light weapons, and routinely advises academic, military, and law enforcement clients. Mr Ferguson has published numerous articles and reports, and is working on two books for publication in 2018. His research interests include the use and effects of firearms, including historical wound ballistics, the depiction of firearms in folklore and popular culture, and legacy small arms in contemporary conflict. Nicolas Florquin is the research coordinator and a senior researcher at the Small Arms Survey. He coordinates projects on armed actors and illicit flows of arms and ammunition in a variety of settings. He previously worked for Geneva Call, an organization specializing in engaging with non-state armed groups on humanitarian issues, and for the United Nations Group of Experts on Liberia. He holds a master’s of public administration from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Anthony G. Williams was the long-time editor of IHS Jane’s Weapons: Ammunition, the international reference guide to military and law enforcement ammunition, and is a contributing technical specialist with ARES. He has been collecting and researching ammunition for more than four decades, with a particular interest in small arms and automatic cannon ammunition, the guns that fire it, and how they are employed. He has written or co-authored several books on arms and ammunition as well as numerous magazine articles, and is editor of The Cartridge Researcher, the monthly bulletin of the European Cartridge Research Association. Mr Williams continues to produce substantial original research with ARES.

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About the authors

Jonathan Ferguson is a technical specialist with ARES, and the Keeper of Firearms

A Guide to the Identification of Small Arms and Light Weapons

Acknowledgements

The authors and editors would like to extend their sincerest thanks to the many people who assisted with this project over several years. These individuals include Tom Peter Beris (World Customs Organization), Kevin Billinghurst, Peter Bouckaert (Human Rights Watch), Brian Castner (Amnesty International), C.J. Chivers (The New York Times), Alexander Diehl, Oykun Eren, Jim Geibel, Federico Graziano, Paul Holtom (Small Arms Survey), John Ismay (Amnesty International), G. Hays (Armament Research Services—ARES), Richard Jones, Benjamin King (Small Arms Survey), Shelly Kittleson, Ivan Kochin, Yuri Lyamin (ARES), Nicolas Marsh, Ian McCollum (ARES), Glenn McDonald (Small Arms Survey), Hans Migielski (ARES), Kristóf Nagy, Vadim Naninets, Magnus Palmér (Saab), Steven Pavlovich (Western Australia Police Force), Maxim Popenker, Adam Rawnsley (The Daily Beast), Graeme Rice (ARES), Natalie Sambhi, Jim Schatz, Michael

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Smallwood (ARES), Jerry Smith (ARES), Kurt Stancl (Bear Arms), Robert Stott (AK-47 Catalog book series), Drake Watkins, Michael Weber (ARES), and Galen Wright (ARES). Whether by contributing images, information, or technical expertise, or by assisting in the informal or formal review processes, each of these individuals has shared their knowledge and insights. Several others, who have declined to be named for reasons of privacy or security, also provided assistance. The authors and editors would also like to extend special thanks to the staff at the National Firearms Centre of the Royal Armouries in Leeds, United Kingdom, for providing first-hand access to its substantial and impressive collection of modern and historical firearms for research, reference, and photographic purposes. Publication of this Handbook was made possible thanks to financial support from the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement of the US Department of State.

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It is important to note that arms and ammunition identification is a very broad field, filled with many unknowns, errors, and disinformation. Arms and ammunition identification is also a very dynamic field, with new information frequently coming to light. This Handbook is intended only as an introduction to the practice and techniques of arms and ammunition identification. It is not a comprehensive list of identification techniques, or types or characteristics of specific arms and ammunition. Most organisations and individuals do not need to identify weapons on sight; the real task of identification can often be undertaken by specialists later. What is important is to provide those specialists with relevant information, such as clear photographs and detailed records of the item’s characteristics. To this end, this Handbook is intended to enable the reader to recognize important information and record it accurately, and also to classify and identify small arms, light weapons, and their ammunition according to their physical features and markings. The identification of a particular item using this guide should be considered tentative until a specialist has confirmed the identification.

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Using this handbook

Using this Handbook

A Guide to the Identification of Small Arms and Light Weapons

Disclaimer

The information in this Handbook is provided for informational purposes only. Arms or munitions of any variety should not be handled without the correct training, and then only in a manner consistent with such training. Subject matter experts, such as armourers, ammunition technical officers, and explosive ordnance disposal specialists should be consulted before interacting with arms or munitions. Individuals must also make a full and informed appraisal of the local security situation before conducting any research related to arms or munitions. The Small Arms Survey (including its employees and consultants) shall not be held responsible for any damage, of whatever nature, arising from the direct or indirect use of this Handbook, including any damage, of whatever nature, that

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may be incurred by third parties.

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Table of contents

Table of contents

List of boxes, figures, maps, and tables ................................................ 14 Abbreviations and acronyms ................................................................ 18 Arms-related abbreviations and acronyms

18

Munitions-related abbreviations and acronyms

20

Other abbreviations and acronyms

22

Chapter 1: Small Arms Identification: An Introduction ........................ 25 Introduction Terms and definitions Classifying and identifying arms and ammunition

26 27 30

Level 1: Class

31

Level 2: Group

33

Level 3: Type

34

Level 4: Make, manufacturer, model, and variant

35

Level 5: Additional information

36

Identifying weapons and analysing arms flows: an overview

36

Identifying the make, model, and variant of weapons and ammunition

36

Mapping the chain of custody

38

Chapter 2: Understanding the Trade in Small Arms: Key Concepts ....... 45 Introduction The authorized trade

46 46

Types of transfers

46

The transfer chain

47

Authorized but illicit

48

The illicit trade in small arms

48

Diversion of legal holdings

50

Illicit production of small arms

55

Recirculation of illicit weapons

57

Conclusion

58

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A Guide to the Identification of Small Arms and Light Weapons Handbook

Chapter 3: Weapons Identification: Small Arms ................................... 61 Introduction History and technical development

62 62

Firearms: a brief description

62

Handguns

67

Sub-machine guns

67

Shotguns

70

Rifles

72

Machine guns

78

Physical features

82

Stocks, butt-stocks, and fore-ends

83

Barrels and muzzle attachments

86

Magazines, drums, belts, and clips

91

Finishes

96

Weapon markings

100

Make, manufacturer, factory, arsenal, and country markings

103

Model and calibre designations

107

Serial numbers and date markings

110

Selector, sight, and safety markings

116

Proof, inspection, and acceptance marks

119

Import and other markings

121

Feed devices

123

Packaging and documentation

125

Ancillaries and accessories

127

Chapter 4: Weapons Identification: Small-calibre Ammunition ......... 131 Introduction Small-calibre ammunition: an overview Describing and identifying small-calibre ammunition

132 132 137

Cartridge designation

138

Calibre

138

Country of origin, make, manufacturer, and year of production

140

Functional type

141

Physical characteristics

143

Cartridge case type and shape

143

Case composition

146

Projectile shape, weight, and jacket

149

Crimping, cannelures, and fluting

151

10

153

Headstamps and primers

153

Case markings (other)

157

Projectile colouration and markings

158

Sealants

161

Packaging

161

Chapter 5: Weapons Identification: Light Weapons and their Ammunition ....................................................................................... 167 Introduction History and technical development

168 168

Heavy machine guns

168

Light cannon

170

Shoulder-fired grenade launchers

171

Auxiliary grenade launchers

173

Crew-served grenade launchers

175

Light and medium mortars

177

Recoilless weapons

179

Rocket launchers

181

Anti-tank guided missile systems

182

Man-portable air defence systems

184

Physical features

186

Bodies and receivers

186

Baseplates

188

Barrels and launch tubes

189

Feed devices

189

Accessories

190

Markings Ammunition for light weapons

190 195

Cartridges for HMGs, anti-tank rifles, and AMRs (20 mm or less)

195

Light cannon cartridges (20 mm –